Thank You, Mr. Moto (novel)

Thank You, Mr. Moto, a spy thriller authored by John P. Marquand, was initially published in serialized form in the Saturday Evening Post from February 8 through March 14, 1936, before being released as a standalone book on May 15, 1936.

This novel represents the second installment in the six-part Mr. Moto series and is included in the 1939 collection titled Mr. Moto's Three Aces. Set against the backdrop of 1930s East Asia, the narrative follows Mr. Moto, an agent of the Imperial Japanese intelligence service, as he maneuvers through intricate political conspiracies.

Plot summary

Tom Nelson, an American expatriate residing in Beiping, considers himself well-versed in local customs and attitudes. When Eleanor Joyce becomes involved with Major Jamison Best—a former British officer engaged in trading illicit Chinese relics—Nelson cautions her to steer clear.

After dining with Best, Nelson overhears ambiguous mentions of a bandit leader named Wu Lo Feng and hints at forthcoming disturbances. Following a fraught encounter with Joyce near Best’s residence, Nelson discovers the next day that Best has been slain by a Chinese crossbow bolt. Mr. Moto undertakes an investigation but advises Nelson to avoid involvement. Ignoring this warning, Nelson alerts Joyce, who was last seen alongside Best.

Nelson soon uncovers that Moto has fabricated Best’s death to appear as a suicide. Upon returning home, Nelson narrowly survives an assassination attempt involving a crossbow; Moto intervenes once more and insists Nelson leave Peking immediately. Nevertheless, Wu Lo Feng lies in wait with lethal intent.

After escaping danger, Nelson reunites with Joyce at her hotel where she is in possession of an ancient Chinese scroll connected to Best and a dealer named Pu. Together they seek out Prince Tung, who discloses that Joyce is acting as a museum buyer responsible for procuring eight ancient scrolls—seven of which are secured within Tung’s vault.

The conflict intensifies when Wu’s men capture Nelson, Joyce, Tung, and Mr. Moto at an abandoned temple. Moto reveals that extremist Japanese factions led by Mr. Takahara commissioned Wu to foment unrest and finance their agenda by trafficking scrolls stolen from Tung’s collection. Best had betrayed Wu by providing intelligence to Moto and was consequently executed.

Wu and Takahara arrive intending to finalize their scheme and threaten the prisoners’ lives. Seizing a chance, Joyce grabs Wu’s firearm; they manage to overpower their captors and escape. Subsequently, Moto organizes police forces to suppress the planned insurrection.

Back at Nelson’s residence, Tung reproaches Nelson for sparing Wu’s life, fearing retribution. Later, Moto confides that he has eliminated both Takahara and Wu to ensure their safety. The group expresses sincere appreciation for Mr. Moto’s swift and decisive actions.

Characters

• Tom Nelson – An American attorney who has resided in Peking for several years.
• Eleanor Joyce – An American museum purchaser tasked with acquiring eight ancient silk scrolls depicting Chinese landscapes.
• Mr. Moto – An operative of the Japanese Secret Service.
• Prince Tung – A friend of Nelson’s from an esteemed Manchu lineage.
• Major Jamison Best – A former British military officer dealing in Chinese art and artifacts within Peking.
• Wu Lo Feng – A Chinese bandit leader who instigates disorder in Peking for financial gain.
• Takahara – A radical Japanese politician promoting aggressive expansion into China.

Themes

Marquand’s Moto series delves into the cultural tensions between Eastern and Western societies. Nelson serves as a conduit for both American and Chinese viewpoints. Told from Nelson’s first-person perspective, he expresses admiration for Chinese traditions while still feeling like an outsider. Prince Tung commends Nelson’s occasional respect for Chinese practices but also critiques his reliance on Western reasoning. Eleanor Joyce’s spontaneous decision to seize a bandit’s weapon ultimately proves crucial to their survival.

The romance between Nelson and Joyce, along with the significance of the silk scrolls, plays a secondary role amid the larger context of Sino-Japanese conflict. Moto, a traditionalist Japanese official, advocates for Japan’s steady progress, whereas Takahara embodies the faction favoring aggressive expansion that risks provoking turmoil.

Moto attempts to reconcile heritage with modernization; one scene illustrates this by showing Prince Tung, representing China’s historical legacy, and Moto, symbolizing its future, sharing tea in a courteous exchange while Nelson observes quietly.

Marquand provides Moto with an opportunity to justify Japan’s policies during a period when American opinion about Japanese territorial ambitions was uncertain:

Any unrest in China is blamed on my country. This is difficult to accept. Did your powerful nation not annex part of Mexico? And Britain’s colonial ventures? Yet when Japan endeavors with good intent to address Chinese matters, objections arise.

Though political strains exist, Moto is depicted as a man of integrity who prioritizes American safety.

Historian Michael Schneider observes that the Mr. Moto novels portray Japanese imperialism in a manner that resonated with many American readers, casting Moto as a moderate figure. While Chinese culture is shown as ancient and exotic, Schneider argues that the series largely perpetuates existing racial and ethnic stereotypes.

Reception

Critics lauded the novel for its dynamic energy, vivid descriptions, and rapid pacing.

Film adaptation

The 1937 movie Thank You, Mr. Moto, featuring Peter Lorre and produced by 20th Century Fox, was loosely based on this novel. The adaptation retains only a few character names and minimal elements of the original storyline.